In a heartwarming initiative aimed at supporting teen mothers in the community, Mina Boomer, a student at Ada Merritt K-8 Center in Miami-Dade County, has established “Project Ada.”
Originally envisioned as a small school project, Project Ada has blossomed into a meaningful community outreach program that addresses the unique challenges faced by teenage mothers.
The program is a part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP), which encourages students to engage in projects that serve their community and stir positive change.
Mina chose to focus her efforts on supporting teen moms, whose struggles often go unnoticed. With the backing of her school and mentorship from dedicated individuals, she launched this initiative to supply gift basket starter kits targeted at the needs of mothers at the Dorothy M. Wallace COPE Center.
The COPE Center is notable in Miami-Dade County for providing education and support to young mothers as they navigate both parenting and academics. It is a place filled with resilience, strength, and hope.
To ensure her project truly meets the needs of these teen moms, Mina took the critical step of soliciting their input through a survey. The feedback revealed an emphasis on essential items such as diapers, toiletries, and baby bottles, along with a surprising request for makeup—highlighting that these young women, while mothers, are also navigating the complexities of adolescence.
With collaboration from community partners, including United Way Miami and representatives from Kimberly-Clark (the maker of Huggies), Mina orchestrated a donation drive that proved to be overwhelmingly successful.
On April 25, she delivered the first round of gift baskets to the COPE Center, which included diapers, baby bottles, and personal care items. The initiative has since garnered attention and support, leading to the collection of more than 2,000 diapers and 77 baby bottles, alongside an abundance of makeup and toiletries.
This journey has been transformative for Mina. It has underscored her belief in the power of community support to drive meaningful change.
She expressed appreciation for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, stating that the district has greatly aided her project—from facilitating connections with the COPE Center to fostering her leadership abilities in serving others.
As the collection drive at United Way Miami concluded on May 30, Mina prepared to deliver another round of gift baskets on June 2, providing essential items and encouragement to the resilient teen moms at the COPE Center.
Mina remains committed to Project Ada and plans to continue the initiative over the summer as part of her Girl Scouts High Award project.
With plans to resume collections in the fall, she encourages community members to stay engaged and look for ways to participate in this worthy cause.
Follow along and engage with Project Ada through their Instagram account, @TheProjectAda, as they aim to empower and uplift the young mothers in their community.
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